Coulson Aviation Challenges Saskatchewan’s $135M Q400 Deal

Coulson Aircrane, part of Canada’s Coulson Aviation, has filed a lawsuit in the Court of King’s Bench to overturn Saskatchewan’s CAD187 million (USD135.5 million) contract with Conair Group for four DHC-8-Q400(AT) firefighting aircraft. The company alleges the provincial government awarded “a very large contract for forest fire airplanes” without giving Coulson or other competitors a fair opportunity to bid, CBC News reported.

In a statement to ch-aviation, Coulson Aviation said government procurement should be transparent, especially for large expenditures. While Coulson does not currently build Q400 Type 2 airtankers, it claims it could deliver the same specifications “for half the price.” The company estimates a used Q400 costs around CAD5 million (USD3.6 million) and another CAD5 million to retrofit, compared to Conair’s price of more than CAD46 million (USD33.3 million) per unit.

Coulson also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, noting that the executive director of air operations at the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, reportedly a key decision-maker in the purchase, is a former Conair maintenance director.

Conair Group responded publicly, saying it was aware of the legal action but could not comment on specifics. The company defended its reputation, stating it is “the only company currently delivering large airtankers certified by Transport Canada” and emphasizing the importance of safety and quality in firefighting resources.

Saskatchewan added its first Q400(AT), C-GOVQ, in late June following a severe spring wildfire season that exposed gaps in its aerial firefighting fleet.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com